CARITAS Australia and several Australian Catholic religious orders are urgently calling for support as they respond to the escalating human tragedy unfolding in Pakistan where more than 20 million people are affected by the worst floods the country has seen in decades.
Caritas chief executive officer Jack de Groot said the floods were impacting on “more people than the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir and this year’s Haiti earthquakes combined”.
Australia’s Salesian Mission Office director Br Michael Lynch, who arrived in Lahore on August 14, said food shortages were a major problem with crops destroyed and livestock drowned.
Jesuit Mission Australia director Fr Phil Crotty said the order’s Lahore superior Fr Renato Zecchin, currently in Australia, was heading back at the end of the month with the intention of linking up with the Salesians to respond to the disaster.
Catholic Mission’s national director Martin Teulan has appealed for prayers for the people of Pakistan.
“The people of Pakistan are faced with a great tragedy.
After suffering so much in their daily lives with internal conflict, violence and acts of terrorism, they now face an even greater national emergency.”
The floods, the worst in 80 years, triggered by July’s torrential monsoonal downpours, have engulfed Pakistan’s Indus River basin, killing more than 1600 people, forcing an estimated 20 million people from their homes.
Mr de Groot said the situation was becoming more precarious for everyone as the days passed.
“The sick, old, frail and very young are the most susceptible to disease and illness,” he said.
“Water-borne illnesses and diseases like cholera and diarrhoea are threatening the survivors.”
Mr de Groot said much of Caritas’ work was focusing on Shangla, one of the most affected districts in the KPK province.
“The impact of the flooding has been devastating,” he said.
“Ninety per cent of the safe drinking water supplies have been damaged, the majority of latrines and food stocks are unusable, infrastructure such as schools and bridges have been destroyed, and there is no electricity.
“Caritas is working through local partners on the ground to respond to immediate needs of food, water and shelter by delivering hygiene and shelter kits, including water purification tablets.”
Br Lynch said the Salesian presence in Pakistan “was very small – just two houses – one in Quetta and the other in Lahore”.
The Salesian Brother said he had been invited to Pakistan to participate in a ceremony to open extensions to the Don Bosco Technical School in Lahore on August 16.
The school has 220 students and the rector and principal is Fr Miguel Ruiz.
The disastrous floods have occurred since Br Lynch received the invitation.
“The main problems I’m hearing about are the shortage of food and shelter and the threat of disease,” Br Lynch said.
“After night prayers on my second night in Lahore, I spoke to a group of lads from flood-ravaged districts.
“They said it was the worst flooding they had seen.
“Some climbed trees to escape the torrent of water.
“Old and fragile people unable to move quickly were swept away and died.
“Oil refineries and power plants were destroyed in the floods.
“In some areas two political parties (both Muslim) were fighting each other on what should be done.”
Br Lynch said that, once floodwaters subsided, Fr Ruiz planned to work with students to rebuild homes and agricultural projects, assisting in the first instance families who have lost everything and whose sons are in Don Bosco Technical School, Lahore.
“There are more than 100 such families,” he said.
Fr Crotty said the small Jesuit mission in Lahore was mounting an appeal to help those affected by the Pakistan floods.
“Fr Zecchin, formerly of South Australia, has been involved with the mission there for the past 20 years,” he said.
“He’s been in Australia for the past few months but now is returning to Lahore.
“The plan is to first start looking at rebuilding houses that have been destroyed and to also link up with the Salesians.”
Mr de Groot said many of the people affected by the floods were already very poor.
“They probably struggled to plan for tomorrow let alone plan for a massive unexpected disaster like this,” he said.
“When it stops raining and the floods subside, these people will need even more support.
“Caritas Australia will still be there working with communities to improve hygiene practices, providing access to clean water, repairing community infrastructure through cash for work projects and providing emergency shelter.”
Mr Teulan said Catholic Mission has been working in Pakistan for numerous years supporting the fledging Church.
“Catholics make up only one per cent of the population. This is a day when Muslim, Hindu and Christians are all challenged. We pray for the people of Pakistan that this crisis will pass quickly,” he said.
To help Catholic Mission’s effort phone 1800 257 296 or go to www.catholicmission.org.au
Donations to Caritas Australia’s South Asia Floods Appeal – Pakistan, can be made by phoning the Brisbane office on (07) 3336 9412, on line at www.caritas.org.au or by phoning the toll-free number 1800 024 413.
To support the Salesians, contact the order’s Melbourne office on (03) 9377 6060.
Jesuit Mission Australia can be contacted on (02) 9955 8585 or at www.jesuitmission.org.au
